US Airways has announced that they will launch three times daily service between Quebec City and their Philadelphia hub. The new flights will start on Jun 2 with CRJ200 aircraft.
Source: Airline Route Updates
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Air Canada announces non-stop Gander - Toronto flights
Air Canada has announced that they will launch seasonal non-stop service between Gander, Newfoundland and Toronto on Jun 18. The flight will be operated daily over the summer season with an E190 aircraft.
Flight Timings
Toronto-Gander Dep 2255 Arr 0317+1
Gander-Toronto Dep 0520 Arr 0659
Source: Air Canada
Flight Timings
Toronto-Gander Dep 2255 Arr 0317+1
Gander-Toronto Dep 0520 Arr 0659
Source: Air Canada
Delta SkyMiles eliminates mileage expiry
Finally some good news coming out of an frequent flyer program! Delta announced today that they have eliminated their mileage expiry rules. Simply put this means SkyMiles don't expire. Delta is now the only major U.S. carrier, North America actually, without mileage expiration.
The question that will now be raised, is will other airlines follow suit? I think we will definitely see a couple of the other majors do so in the U.S. but I am not too sure about Air Canada and WestJet as they tend not to follow trends in the U.S. that do not benefit their bottom line. Ultimately though, this will help out Delta's bottom line as they may actually see some defection and new customers to their program. This will primarily be seen on the lower end with those who avoid joining travel rewards programs as before they would not earn enough miles within the expiration period to redeem for something worthwhile.
You can see Delta's membership rules here stating that miles no longer expire
The question that will now be raised, is will other airlines follow suit? I think we will definitely see a couple of the other majors do so in the U.S. but I am not too sure about Air Canada and WestJet as they tend not to follow trends in the U.S. that do not benefit their bottom line. Ultimately though, this will help out Delta's bottom line as they may actually see some defection and new customers to their program. This will primarily be seen on the lower end with those who avoid joining travel rewards programs as before they would not earn enough miles within the expiration period to redeem for something worthwhile.
You can see Delta's membership rules here stating that miles no longer expire
Friday, February 11, 2011
FlyCentralEurope to launch Hamilton - Eastern Europe service
This may not appeal to many of our frequent flyers, but for many of our 'regular' travelers who fly charters this is an interesting new option to get to Eastern Europe with flights from Hamilton to Budapest, Krakow and Prague. The service will run from May to September 2011. FlyCentralEurope is owned by Canadian tour company Panorama Travel and Tours and technically do not own any planes. They will be utilizing Boeing 767-200 aircraft (and I would assume crews) from Italian leisure carrier Air Italy.
Source Airline Route Updates and FlyCentralEurope
Source Airline Route Updates and FlyCentralEurope
Thursday, February 10, 2011
WestJet mounts new challenge in the Eastern Triangle
Since the launch of Porter Airlines a few years back WestJet has seen their small market share of the eastern triangle between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal be eroded to an even smaller percentage putting them behind Air Canada and Porter. To prove their importance in the market and attempt to gain more business travellers WestJet announced a new initiative on their Eastern Triangle routes that will take effect on May 2, 2011.
The initiative includes increases in the number of flights on business days to 10 each way between YYZ and YUL and 9 each way between YYZ and YOW. These flights will all depart from easy access gates at each airport. Further initiatives on these routes include no fees to take an earlier or later flight on the same day and complementary wine and beer on board. Also, guests who join WestJet's Frequent Guest Program will receive 25 bonus WestJet dollars for every three one-way flights flown in the triangle between May and August. WestJet is also promising 50% off their guest next flight on these routes should their current flights be delayed by more then 30 minutes. If a flight is cancelled and the guest can't fly at the new time they will receive a full credit for their first flight and the 50% off their next flight.
For more details and a schedule for the flights on the triangle please see this WestJet press release
The initiative includes increases in the number of flights on business days to 10 each way between YYZ and YUL and 9 each way between YYZ and YOW. These flights will all depart from easy access gates at each airport. Further initiatives on these routes include no fees to take an earlier or later flight on the same day and complementary wine and beer on board. Also, guests who join WestJet's Frequent Guest Program will receive 25 bonus WestJet dollars for every three one-way flights flown in the triangle between May and August. WestJet is also promising 50% off their guest next flight on these routes should their current flights be delayed by more then 30 minutes. If a flight is cancelled and the guest can't fly at the new time they will receive a full credit for their first flight and the 50% off their next flight.
For more details and a schedule for the flights on the triangle please see this WestJet press release
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Air Canada cans new Vancouver-Tokyo Haneda service
Air Canada has decided not to proceed with their new Vancouver - Tokyo Haneda route to due poor demand. The flight was scheduled to start at the end of this month.
Source Airline Route Updates
Source Airline Route Updates
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
WestJet and Delta ink interline agreement
WestJet announced yesterday that they have signed an interline agreement with Atlanta based Delta Airlines. The agreement went into effect immediately allowing WestJet and Delta customers to purchase connecting flights on one ticket, receive boarding passes for all segments at their first check-in, and tag bags through to their final destination. Currently it will allow connections between WestJet and Delta in over 25 cities in Canada and the U.S.. At the moment passengers must book via Delta booking channels to get the interline flights on both airlines.
This move makes a lot of sense for WestJet even though they already have an agreement in place with American Airlines. Why? As we have stated in the past Delta serves the most cities in Canada after Air Canada and WestJet and Delta's SkyTeam alliance is the second largest alliance in Canada after Star Alliance (solely because of Air Canada) The majority of the Canadian cities covered by Delta are served by WestJet as well, more so then American Airlines and allows for many more connections to be made across Canada rather then only 4 or 5 major cities.
Source: WestJet Press Release
This move makes a lot of sense for WestJet even though they already have an agreement in place with American Airlines. Why? As we have stated in the past Delta serves the most cities in Canada after Air Canada and WestJet and Delta's SkyTeam alliance is the second largest alliance in Canada after Star Alliance (solely because of Air Canada) The majority of the Canadian cities covered by Delta are served by WestJet as well, more so then American Airlines and allows for many more connections to be made across Canada rather then only 4 or 5 major cities.
Source: WestJet Press Release
Air Canada to launch Montreal - Sept Iles service
According to Airline Route Updates, Air Canada will launch non-stop service between Montreal and Sept Iles on Mar 7, 11. The flight will be offered 6x weekly (No Sunday service) aboard a Dash 8-100.
Flight Timings:
Montreal-Sept Iles Dep 0750 Arr 0950
Sept Iles-Montreal Dep 1010 Arr 1225
Flight Timings:
Montreal-Sept Iles Dep 0750 Arr 0950
Sept Iles-Montreal Dep 1010 Arr 1225
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
WestJet adds Orange County flights from Calgary & Vancouver
WestJet announced today that they will offer direct non-stop flights from Calgary and Vancouver to Orange County, California. The summer seasonal service will be daily and is slated to start on May 2 from Vancouver and on June 13 from Calgary. For those who are not aware, Orange County's John Wayne Airport is close to Anaheim (Disneyland), Knots Berry Farm and the beach cities of Southern California.
Flight timings
Calgary-Orange County Dep 930 Arr 1149
Orange County-Calgary Dep 1230 Arr 1635
Vancouver-Orange County Dep 1030 Arr 1323
Orange County-Vancouver Dep 1415 Arr 1705
Source: WestJet
Flight timings
Calgary-Orange County Dep 930 Arr 1149
Orange County-Calgary Dep 1230 Arr 1635
Vancouver-Orange County Dep 1030 Arr 1323
Orange County-Vancouver Dep 1415 Arr 1705
Source: WestJet
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Virgin America cuts Toronto service
Less then a year after it started Virgin America will cut its service between Toronto and Los Angeles and San Francisco. Citing a lack of available planes and YYZ being the least profitable route, Virgin America will move the planes from these routes to more profitable ones. The Toronto flights will operate until April 5, 2011.